A West Michigan native, the 6-4 Firlik competed for Owens Community College this past season in Toledo and tallied 10 points and four rebounds a game while earning All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) honors for the Express, where he was guided by a pair of FSU basketball alums in head coach David Clarke and assistant coach Dennis Springs. The Grand Rapids Catholic Central product helped lead Owens to a 25-7 overall record and conference title with 55 three-pointers made following a highly-successful prep career under head coach TJ Meerman at Catholic Central. As a prepster, he averaged 17.4 points per game his senior season and was a two-time first team All-Ottawa Kent Gold Conference performer and all-state recipient. He played AAU basketball for ACB/Bank Hoops.